Gutierrez is Texas-bound to see how immigrant minors are being treated

Rep. Luis V. Gutiérrez, D-Ill., a vocal advocate of overhauling the nation's immigration laws, delivered a blistering floor speech Friday night before the House voted to effectively end Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals.

Rep. Luis V. Gutiérrez, D-Ill., a vocal advocate of overhauling the nation's immigration laws, delivered a blistering floor speech Friday night before the House voted to effectively end Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals.

Michelle ManchirTribune reporter

U.S. Rep. Luis Gutierrez of Illinois will be among 12 members of Congress to visit a section of the U.S. border Thursday and Friday where tens of thousands of children have crossed into the country, his office announced Wednesday.

Gutierrez, a Democrat, will be the only member of Congress from Illinois on the trip to Texas. The group is expected to “see for themselves what’s going on and how children from Central America are being treated,” said a spokesman for his office, Douglas Rivlin.

Rivlin said he had not yet seen a complete itinerary for the trip.

The bipartisan, bicameral delegation is expected to visit the U.S. Border Patrol’s McAllen Station in South Texas and Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, according to a news release. The group is being led by Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Democratic Rep. Steny Hoyer of Maryland.

Earlier this month, Gutierrez, a member of the House Hispanic caucus who has championed immigration reform, criticized U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk after the Illinois Republican called for criminal background checks on any immigrant minors brought to the U.S.